In a delightful twist that’s sure to spark nostalgia among fans, the Disney Store has quietly reintroduced the beloved Toy Story Space Crane toy, albeit under a fresh name. There’s an overwhelming variety of Disney merchandise available at any given moment, and for every item you can think of, there’s almost certainly a Disney-themed version that has graced the shelves at some point. While I sometimes feel there might be a bit too much Disney merchandise flooding the market, I can't help but feel excited about the return of this particular toy.
Toy Story holds a special place in my heart as one of my all-time favorite films, and I firmly believe it stands out as the best franchise from Pixar. The imagery that lingers from the original movie features unforgettable scenes, particularly the iconic Pizza Planet truck and the memorable Space Crane sequence. This working miniature crane game brings back a wave of nostalgia that resonates deeply with me.
The Toy Story Alien Crane Game Is Back!
Introducing the Toy Story Alien Crane Game, now with sound!
Interestingly, this isn't the first time we've encountered this toy. Originally launched as a Disney Parks Exclusive in 2022 under a different name, you can still track down the previous version on platforms like Amazon. After perusing some unboxing videos from its initial release, it appears that the new iteration is almost identical in design and functionality. Although I'm not certain when the previous model was phased out from Disney's online store, this revamped version quietly became available exclusively at the Disney Store at the end of January 2025, patiently awaiting fans to rediscover it.
So, what exactly does this toy do? At its core, it’s a fully operational claw machine designed to resemble a miniature rocket ship. With a joystick, you can maneuver the claw and press a button to release it. The set includes ten little alien figures that you can attempt to retrieve using the game’s claw. The original Space Crane toy came with various sound effects, including the memorable phrase "Ooh, the Claw!" which may or may not be included in this new version, according to the product description.
Exciting News for Toy Story Fans: Toy Story 5 is on the Horizon!
For those who may not be closely tracking Pixar's upcoming releases, it's important to highlight that Toy Story 5 is set to premiere this year. The film is anticipated to arrive in theaters on June 19, 2026, and is likely to unleash a fresh wave of Toy Story merchandise. Rumor has it that LEGO may even unveil a Toy Story book nook shaped like Slinky Dog in 2026. Given that there have only been three LEGO book nooks released so far, I sincerely hope this speculation turns out to be true!
Jacob Kienlen serves as a Senior Audience Development Strategist and Writer for IGN. Hailing from Portland, Oregon, he has embraced the Northwest as his lifelong home. With a bachelor’s degree in communication and over eight years of professional writing experience, Jacob’s expertise spans a wide range of pop culture topics, from television series to indie games and literature.
